Strawberry plant named ‘Driscoll Atlantis’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Atlantis.’ The variety is similar to the varieties ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo.’ The variety is distinguished from ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo,’ in particular, by its shorter average stipule length, reduced frequency of paired bracts, shorter sepal length and width, weak leaf glosiness, dense stipule pubescence, and a very narrow band on the fruit where achenes are absent.

1. Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa.

1.1 Variety denomination: The strawberry variety denomination is ‘Driscoll Atlantis’.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants ‘88E94’ (unpatented variety) and Mirador (U.S. Plant Pat. No.: 11,279) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered as a seedling in Hillsborough, Fla. in 1999. The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by stolons in a Nursery in Shasta County, Calif. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Hillsborough County, Fla., where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing in Hillsborough County, Fla. for three years. This propagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Atlantis.’ The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa. The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables 1-4.

4. COMPARISON TO SIMILAR VARIETIES

The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ from those known to us are ‘Biscayne’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,186) and ‘Key Largo’ ( U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,649). There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo’. The new variety has a shorter average stipule length, a reduced frequency of paired bracts, a shorter sepal length and width, weak leaf glosiness, dense stipule pubescence, and a very narrow band on the fruit where achenes are absent.

‘Driscoll Atlantis’ is distinguished from its parents ‘88E94’ and ‘Mirador’ by being partially everbearing, in comparison to the fully everbearing trait of both parents.

5. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including fruit, foliage and flowers, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of these characteristics.

FIG. 1 shows the upper side of the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 2 shows the whole the plant.

FIG. 3 shows the under side and underside of the flowers.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up of the fruit.

FIG. 5 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

6. DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants and fruit grown in Hillsborough County, Fla., U.S.A. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Observations of ‘Driscoll Atlantis’, ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo’ were taken in side by side comparison in the 2003-2004 winter season. Plants for observation were harvested from McArthur, Calif., and held in refrigerated storage until planting in Hillsborough County, Fla. in October 2003. Plants were grown in raised beds of soil under conditions typical of commercial strawberry production in central Florida. Fruits were harvested twice weekly for yield determination from November 2003 to March 2004. Measurements of plant, flower, and fruit characteristics were made in January 2004, approximately four months after planting. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors are described and the most similar color designations are provided from The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

6.1 PROPAGATION

The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolons. Although propagation by stolons is presently preferred, other known methods of propagating strawberry plants may be employed.

6.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW VARIETY

Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. In the tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except where indicated. The fruit described is the secondary fruit on five month old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers.

Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ compared with characteristics of ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo.’ Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo.’ Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to stresses, pests and diseases compared with reactions of the varieties ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo.’ Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to that of the varieties ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo.’

TABLE 1 QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL ATLANTIS’, ‘BISCAYNE,’ AND ‘KEY LARGO’ ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ ‘Biscayne’ ‘Key Largo’ Plant Characteristics Height of Plant (cm)  8.7  10.0  11.6 Spread of Plant (cm)  30.8  31.3  32.1 Number of Crowns  3.7  3.2  4.2 Leaf Characteristics Terminal Leaflet  7.0  7.6  8.4 Length (cm) Terminal Leaflet  7.2  8.1  8.0 Width (cm) Terminal Leaflet  0.97  0.93  1.06 Length/Width Ratio # Teeth/Terminal  19.0  27.0  21.6 Leaflet Color of upper side 137A 137A 137A medium green light green light green Color of under side 140D 139C 139C light gray light gray light gray green green green Petiole Length (cm)  10.5  9.2  11.5 Petiole Color 145C 142D 142D yellow green yellow green yellow green Petiolule Length (mm)  4.7  5.5  6.3 Petiolule Diameter  1.7  2.2  1.9 (mm) Petiolule Color 145C 142D 142D yellow green yellow green yellow green Bract Frequency 50% 83% 0% typically typically paired paired Stipule Length (cm)  2.9  3.7  3.4 Stipule Width (cm)  1.5  2.0  1.5 Stolon Characteristics Anthocyanin color  60A  59B red red Diameter at bract  2.92  3.24  3.30 (mm) Avg. # of Daughter  53  72  52 plants (2003 Nursery) Flower Characteristics Petal Length (cm)  1.3  1.36  1.65 Petal Width (cm)  1.3  1.49  1.46 Petal Length/Width  0.96  0.91  1.13 Ratio Flower Diameter (cm)  2.85  2.76  2.72 Calyx Diameter (cm)  3.48  3.86  5.11 Sepal Length (mm)  12.7  15.3  21.5 Sepal Width (cm)  6.8  7.22  9.15 Petal Color 155C 155C 155C white white white Receptical Color 149C 150A 150A yellow green yellow green yellow green Anther Color  9A yellow  9A yellow  9A yellow Fruiting Truss Length  18.2  8.7  13.6 (cm) Fruit Characteristics Fruit Length (cm)  5.0  4.8  4.8 Fruit Width (cm)  3.9  4.0  3.5 Fruit Length/Width  1.29  1.20  1.37 Ratio Average Berry Weight  23.6  26.5  23.2 (g) External Color  45B  46B  46B red red red Internal Color  42B  44A  44B dark red medium red medium red Achene Coloration 151D to 185D 180B to 150C 182B to 150A grey red to grey red to grey red to yellow green yellow green yellow green Achenes per berry 121 109 104 Achene weight (g)  0.000082  0.00046  0.00058 2003-2004 Fruit Yield 327 243 251 (g/plant)

TABLE 2 QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL ATLANTIS’, ‘BISCAYNE,’ AND ‘KEY LARGO’ ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ ‘Biscayne’ ‘Key Largo’ Plant Habit flat globose flat globose globose Canopy Density medium to medium medium dense Vigor medium strong medium Leaf Shape in cross section slightly concave slightly concave to flat concave Interveinal blistering medium weak weak Glossiness weak medium medium Number of leaflets three only three only three only Terminal leaflet flat revolute revolute margin profile Terminal leaflet shape rounded rounded slightly oblique of base Terminal leaflet shape obtuse to rounded rounded of teeth rounded Stipule pubescence dense medium medium Petiole pubescence dense medium medium Petiole pose of hairs outwards outwards upward Stolon Anthocyanin weak to strong coloration medium Thickness medium medium Pubescence medium medium Inflorescence Position relative to level to above level level to above foliage Diameter of calyx same size to larger much larger relative to corolla on larger secondary flowers Diameter of inner same size same size smaller calyx relative to outer on secondary flowers Spacing of petals overlapping overlapping overlapping Fruiting Truss Attitude at first prostrate prostrate semi-erect picking Fruit Predominant shape conical conical conical Difference in shapes slight slight slight between primary and secondary fruits Band without achenes very narrow narrow narrow Unevenness of surface weak to weak weak medium Evenness of color even even even Glossiness strong strong strong Insertion of achenes level with level with below surface surface surface Insertion of calyx level level set above Pose of the calyx spreading to spreading reflexed segments reflexed Size of calyx in same to larger larger larger relation to fruit on secondary fruit Adherence of calyx strong strong strong Firmness of flesh firm firm firm Evenness of flesh slightly uneven slightly uneven slightly uneven color Distribution of flesh marginal and marginal and marginal and color central central central Hollow center size medium large medium Sweetness strong strong medium Texture when tasted medium fine medium Acidity medium medium medium Time of First Late October Mid-November Late November Flowering in 2003- 2004 Harvest Interval in Late November Early Late December 2003-2004 to Mid-March December to to Mid-March Mid-March Type of Bearing partially partially partially everbearing everbearing everbearing

6.3 REACTION TO STRESS, PESTS, AND DISEASE

TABLE 3 REACTIONS TO STRESS PESTS AND DISEASES FOR ‘DRISCOLL ATLANTIS’, ‘BISCAYNE,’ AND ‘KEY LARGO’ ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ ‘Biscayne’ ‘Key Largo’ Reaction to Pests Tetranychus urticae susceptible susceptible moderately susceptible Lygus hesperus susceptible susceptible susceptible Reaction To Diseases Botrytis fruit rot susceptible susceptible susceptible Powdery mildew susceptible moderately susceptible susceptible Verticillium wilt moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Strawberry Mottle Virus moderately moderately moderately resistant resistant resistant Xanthomonas fragariae moderately moderately moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible

6.4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS

In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘Driscoll Atlantis’, ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo’ were analyzed by electrophoresis for isozyme patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (“PGI”), leucine aminopeptidase (“LAP”) and phosphoglucomutase (“PGM”). See J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Isozyme characterization of the three varieties is presented in Table 4, with the letters representing the banding patterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identified article.

TABLE 4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS FOR ‘DRISCOLL ATLANTIS’, ‘BISCAYNE,’ AND ‘KEY LARGO’ ‘Driscoll Locus Atlantis’ ‘Biscayne’ ‘Key Largo’ PGI A4 A1 A1 LAP B3 B3 B3 PGM C4 C4 C4 

1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, substantially as shown and described. 